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History Texts Skip Over Okinawa Battle

Date Posted: 2000-10-06

Local teachers’s associations are up in the arms after they were given a first look at new history text books scheduled for use from school year starting in 2002. The teachers are especially incensed that the books have only a few lines devoted to the Battle of Okinawa.

For example, atrocities committed by the Imperial Army against local civilians are not mentioned at all. The book mentions that many people here committed suicide during the battle, but does not say that they were urged to do so by the Imperial military authorities.

Teachers’ Association officials say that they are determined to oppose the new books by going to courts if necessary. “We have a duty to teach our children accurate history and what happened and why. It is unpardonable to wash over this part of our history,” a spokesman for the association was quoted saying in an interview.